Governance & Institutional Strengthening

Local governments are at the frontline of citizen interaction: they plan, deliver, and maintain services that affect everyday life. Cowater assists in strengthening subnational institutions in areas such as planning, budgeting, infrastructure provision, procurement, and public works oversight. For example, in South Sudan’s LOGOSEED project, we supported training in local government planning, public procurement, and infrastructure project management across counties. In Nepal, we modernized municipal systems by introducing GIS mapping and improving revenue and financial management capacity. We also support the integration of citizen feedback, inclusion of underserved groups, and improved coordination between central and local actors to ensure service delivery is efficient, equitable, and sustainable.

A just society depends on credible institutions that support democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. Cowater provides technical assistance for election monitoring, electoral system design, civic education, and support to rights institutions. We help build capacity for electoral commissions and civil society monitoring groups, strengthen rules and procedures, and promote accountability and transparency. In settings where legitimacy is fragile, we emphasize inclusion, ensuring that marginalized voices are heard; and resilience, helping institutions adapt to political or social transitions.

Sound public finances underpin stable governance, quality service delivery, and citizen trust. Cowater supports public financial management (PFM) reform across domains: domestic revenue mobilization, public expenditure and macroeconomic management, audit and oversight, ethics, and procurement. We help governments improve budgeting, accounting, internal control, external audit, and financial supervision systems. For example, we have supported implementation of PFM components under joint governance programs. In Mozambique, we provided PFM technical advisory services to the Ministry of Health and provincial directorates to decentralize planning and budgeting. In larger-scale institutional reforms, we have assisted national audit offices and public sector ethics enhancement. Through these programs, we help reduce waste and leakage, strengthen oversight, and promote fiscal accountability.

Civil society organizations (CSOs) are vital partners in governance, acting as watchdogs, service providers, and channels for citizen voice. Cowater supports CSOs through organizational development, training in advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, financial management, governance, and partnership skills. We also help build effective platforms for engagement between CSOs and governments. By strengthening CSO capacities, especially among youth, women, and marginalized groups, we enable more inclusive participation and oversight in development processes.